Judson grad clears first round of 'Idol' tryouts

Updated 9:40 am, Thursday, February 7, 2013

The second time was a charm for Cristabel Clack of San Antonio, who advanced to Hollywood on 'American Idol.

The second time was a charm for Cristabel Clack of San Antonio, who advanced to Hollywood on 'American Idol.

Photo: Fox

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San Antonio's Cristabel Clack advanced on AMERICAN IDOL.

San Antonio's Cristabel Clack advanced on AMERICAN IDOL.

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Judson grad clears first round of 'Idol' tryouts

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Cristabel Clack, a 2001 Judson High School graduate, received her “golden ticket to Hollywood” when she auditioned before the judges on season 12 of “American Idol.”

The 29-year-old mother of three belted out, “If I Ain't Got You” by Alicia Keys and won a unanimous decision to continue to the show's “Hollywood week,” which began Wednesday and continues today.

“I was so nervous. I was the most nervous I've ever been in my life, to the point where I thought I was just going to blow chunks everywhere,” Clack said.

Known as “Chica” to friends and family, she found herself on the “AI” stage, singing before her musical idol, Mariah Carey. “I have idolized her for so long!”

Knowing she would be singing before the music powerhouse brought on a mass of nerves, but Clack said the judges helped. “They speak to you before you sing and that helped me a lot so I was able, I think, to deliver a great performance.”

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The stage is nothing new for Clack. Clack comes from a musical family; her father, Andre Fredericks, sang in a doo-wop group The Ink Spots, back in the 1960s. Chica grew up singing with her three siblings (an older brother and sister, and one younger sister) both at home and at Place for Life Community Church.

“My mom has tapes of us harmonizing from when we were tiny little tots. I've been singing since I could talk,” she said. She has toured the country singing with gospel greats such as Israel Houghton, New Breed and Pastor Rod Parsley. Most recently, Clack sang with her church group at various Presidential Inaugural events in Washington, D.C.

Clack auditioned for singing competitions in the past, only to run into disappointment after being cut in the first round. She said she reached a point where she decided to swear off singing shows.

“I was thinking, 'I'm just not what they're looking for,” she said. But she admits that when she drove past the Alamodome and saw signs advertising “American Idol” auditions, “something inside said, 'You have one more shot!”

Clack credits “God's timing,” saying that it was just too perfect. “It's like an out-of-body experience watching myself have this much success and this much exposure after my swearing off of singing competitions.”

Compliments from the judges boosted her confidence.

“Nicki (Minaj) said she enjoyed some of the choices I made, you know, as far as the runs and the placements. She said that she enjoyed some of the choices I made even better than the original. That was kind of like, wow!” Clack said.

Mariah Carey looked Clack in the eye and told her, “I know you, I get you, I love you.” Randy Jackson told Clack that she is what this competition is about. She found the praise humbling, coming from respected industry musicians.

Clack says if she wins “American Idol” it won't change who she is or what she plans to do. She and her husband, Brandon, plan to start their own ministry in San Antonio called Living Waters Community Church.

“My heart is for God,” she said. “(This) won't change me or make me sing secular or anything I'm not comfortable with.”